Mathematics
Mathematics lessons aim to make children feel at ease with numbers, excite them about learning mathematics skills, and build their confidence through challenging, level-appropriate games and activities.
Lessons focus on building basic skills: number recognition, place value, problem solving, and basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).
To help develop curiosity and comfort, mathematics classes use tangible, familiar, and easily available objects such as sticks and paper money to lay the basic foundations. Instructors use word problems based on common daily tasks to help children recognise how mathematics is connected to their everyday lives. Once children can sense the value and relevance of mathematics, they usually begin to enjoy solving problems.
TaRL mathematics levels differ depending on context. The levels described below are based on the Number Recognition part of the assessment. In contexts where there is large variation at the Number Recognition level, this might be a helpful method of grouping.
Beginner Level
Children who are not able to recognise single digit numbers are placed in the Beginner Level group. The primary focus for children in this level is number recognition and counting. At all levels, instructors boost children’s confidence by employing tools to help them understand these concepts, praising children at each step, and encouraging them to participate actively. This is especially important at the Beginner Level, when children often find numbers intimidating.
Mathematics Level 1
When children recognise single-digit numbers, but struggle to read two-digit numbers, they often need help understanding the concept of place value. (This is the idea that a digit’s size depends on its position in the number. In a base-ten number system, we have different positions for “units”; “tens”; “hundreds,” etc.) A primary focus for this group of children is to teach and reinforce an understanding of place value.
Instructors also continue to teach basic operations, giving children appropriately challenging word problems and sums to solve. Instructors continue to introduce tools to help children to organize their mathematical thinking, such as bundles and sticks, as well as a number frame with columns for tens and units. This helps children better understand place value, and to write numbers carefully when carrying out operations.
Mathematics Level 2 & Higher
The ability to recognise two-digit and larger numbers indicates a stronger grasp of the concept of place value. Children at Level 2 and above receive regular practice with large numbers to reinforce their understanding of place value and learn how to solve operations using larger numbers.